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Alumni Spotlight:
Andrew Saftel '77
 When Andy Saftel arrived at St. Andrew's in 1975, he was one of eight students in his junior class. For his first two years of high school, he attended Mt. Hope High School in Bristol, but would find his way to St. Andrew's on the weekends to visit his older brother, David. Finally his parents agreed to send him to St. Andrew's.
In the 1970s each student had an on-cpus job, and Saftel was assigned to work in the kitchen. But soon after his arrival, the school's art teacher, Mrs. Hall - aware of his interest in art -
created the art room monitor position for Saftel.
With his new title came access to the art room. In his free time he started making clay sculptures on the potter's wheel. "It became my first studio. It was the beginning of my identity as an artist: my place, my territory, my refuge," he says.
After St. Andrew's Saftel studied at San Francisco Art Institute where he further pursued his passion. Since the late 1980s, Saftel has been doing full time studio work and expanding his portfolio to painting, photography, sculpture, and printmaking.
Although he has lived in Tennessee for much of his adult life, he has not forgotten his New England roots. Saftel, who was born in New Bedford, grew up in the Hopeworth area of Bristol. "We were out as kids all day long, in the water, digging quahogs. Water has a played a big part in my art in different ways. Even water in the planet. I've never been overtly social or political, but those ideas are there," he says.
Two years ago he created a seven-part series of prints, which featured fruit and the writings of his loved ones, for a gallery in Tennessee. He will be donating one painting, "Sunday," in the series to the auction at the St. Andrew's 125th Celebration on Friday, April 27.
Saftel hopes to give back to young artists at St. Andrew's. "I'm blown away by the art building and the theatre program. The opportunities that students have through St. Andrew's is fantastic. I think it's important for everybody, for young people to get involved in the arts," he says.
His own mentorship at St. Andrew's helped get him to art school. He says, "My time there was incredibly formative. My teachers were fantastic, and I left there confident. To give the painting means a tremendous amount to me."
Saftel's experience at St. Andrew's went beyond discovering his passion for the arts. After St. Andrew's Saftel and his older brother went their own ways, before David passed away at 24. He says, St. Andrew's was so meaningful to him, because "that was our time together."
Five years ago, Saftel came back to St. Andrew's as the artist in residence, for the first time since he had graduated nearly forty years prior. When he returns to campus this April, he will find himself in the classroom again: teaching printmaking classes to students.
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| Wednesday, April 11 |
Alumni Get-Together
6:00pm
with Nick Campagna '08 bartending!
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Join us for appetizers, cocktails and fun.
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Friday, April 27
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125th Anniversary Celebration
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Contact
Pam if you would like to attend.
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| Wednesday, May 23 |
Senior Pinning Ceremony |
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| Saturday-Sunday, June 2-3 |
Commencement/ Reunion Weekend |
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Saturday, August 18
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3rd Annual Men and Women's Basketball Reunion
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Girls game at 1pm
Boys game 2:15pm
Cookout to follow.
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From the Alumni Office
Happy Spring! I hear the birds starting to chirp outside my window, so I know warmer weather is coming. With the arrival of warm weather, I'd love to welcome you back to campus. Would you like a tour and lunch? Please email
me! I would love to show you around and hear your stories. I just caught up with Tim Norton '79 and heard about St. Andrew's during the Blizzard of '78. This was our first story that has come in about the storm. We'd love to hear your
stories, too. You never know you may get a surprise in the mail for your submission!
We will celebrate the school's 125th anniversary on Friday, April 27
at 6:00pm at the Roger Williams Park Casino.
Tickets
can be purchased online,
here at school, or by mail. There are many alumni who plan to attend, and many who have donated to our auction. Bill Mather '58 has transformed headboards from old beds found in McVickar into a gorgeous grandfather clock.
Soon you will be receiving more information on our auction items! It is not too late to donate!
Now I ask you to dig deep and donate to help our students during our spring fundraising appeal. Whether it is $25 or $2,500, every gift is important. Your participation helps us raise money through grants, and your dollars help us fund students to attend that would not be able to attend otherwise. Please consider
helping a Saint as you were helped.
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Alumni Association News
Notes from Alumni Meeting March 27: Many thanks to John Chmura '98 and Angelika Pellegrino '13 for leading the third speaker series about being an entrepreneur and starting your own business. It was insightful and very helpful to all the budding business owners and those that are working in small businesses. The ideas were incredible, and all want to keep the same type of format next year as they came away not only with ideas but connection to further their business.
All Year Reunion Plans: June 2 6:00pm Global Food Tasting: This will include dinner and 2 drink tickets. We will have wine, beer and 2 signature drinks. More drink tickets will be available for purchase.
June 3 at 12:00pm we will have
brunch and paella at Pam's house. The cost for Saturday and Sunday events is
$40 per person.
Alumni Arts Night and Whiskey tasting is being moved to the fall. Alumni are asked to email David Coop if you would like your art work to be in the show. If any alumni have any items for the Auction for that night, please contact Mike Oelbaum. All proceeds will go to the Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Call for alumni that want to become involved: This year we will have our bi-annual elections. We are looking for alumni representatives that can commit to coming to four meetings a year: September, January, March, and the annual meeting on Commencement weekend. You would also volunteer to help coordinate at least one special event; for example: Reunion, Arts and Whiskey Night, Alumni Pasta Day, Alumni and Student Career Day, Alumni Basketball Reunion, Senior Pinning, local get-togethers, or any other idea that you have. Please let
Pam know if you are interested. It is a great way to give back to the school you love, network, and have fun with great folks.
Alumni Scholarship stands at $9732.93 on our way to $25,000. If you would like to help fund our Alumni Scholarship, please
donate, and in the comments section, please make a note that your donation is for the Alumni Scholarship fund.
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Tim Norton '79 graduated from Rhode Island College and earned his graduate degree from University of Rhode Island. He was also an adjunct professor at URI. Tim now writes book reviews for the
Providence Journal, and he's also the founder and president of the
Providence Grays Baseball team, a vintage baseball team with deep roots in Rhode Island Started in 1968, the Grays are now the longest-playing vintage team that follow the rules from the 1850s to 1898. Hopefully we can get them to St. Andrew's to play soon!
Chris Wiese Medeiros '92 has begun a new job at
Tesaro as a key customer liasion based out of the Boston office.
Manny Maldonado '93 has begun a job with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Check out Manny's
interview. Great job, Manny!
Michael Press '96 has been promoted to Executive Director of Banking Product Management at UBS Wealth Management Americas. He has been with UBS since the start of his career and is going on his
eighteenth year with the firm. With his new title, he will manage
product positioning, exception pricing, technology platform, market competitiveness, and risk management. Congratulations, Michael!
Leanne and Marcos Figueredo '99
welcomed their adorable baby, Roman Marcos, to the world on March 3. He weighed 5 lbs, 9oz.
Soohuen Ham '99 is engaged to the wonderful Josephine Wong. Soohuen popped the question while the two were traveling though Spain. We wish you a lifetime of happiness.
Andrew Szala '02
is now the Veterans Affairs Coordinator for Sheldon Whitehouse. He will be handling community outreach for veterans issues, initiating congressional inquiries on behalf of RI's veterans. He also acts as the Senator's State Liaison to RI National Guard.
Victoria Posner '02 just finished a seven-month program for personal training. Despite her previous certificates, she knew that this program would help her become a better coach and mentor to her clients.
To finish the program, she had to complete a 60-hour internship, which she chose to do with a renowned fitness entrepreneur, Hannah Eden. She graduated in February with more than 60 hours completed. She was awarded with the top student award and passed the American College Of Sports Medicine exam for personal training. She has accepted a job in Florida, where she will be a brand strategist as well as a group fitness coach and personal trainer She is excited to start the next phase of her life and we wish her well. You can follow her on @victoriaposner. She posts workouts, so join in!
Vicky says, "You have to be prepared. Before going to school, I knew a lot about the industry but not nearly as much as I know now. 'Knowledge is power if used correctly.' After being prepared, you must be ready to tackle the challenges ahead. You must become like water: able to change direction with fluidity. After being ready, you must be willing to reach your potential. To knock down barriers and kick out the fear. You must also be willing to be vulnerable because while change makes you strong, it also makes you vulnerable to failure and disappointments that may occur. That is both the beauty and ugliness of taking a risk."
Lamar Barrett '04 married the love of his life, Nakida, in the St. Andrew's Chapin Chapel on March 11. The wedding was officiated by P
am Farmer.
Matt '04 and
Laura Harrington Naughton '05 welcomed their new baby, Charlotte Hope, into the world. Congratulations! The enrollment of the class of 2035 is growing!
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Max Skeen '05 |
Max Skeen '05 won an American Illustration 36 award as number 500. Max is getting his MFA at
Savannah College of Arts and Design in Illustration.
Manny Odugbela '08 and Ashley are pleased as punch to welcome their baby Zionn into the world. Congratulations and there will be a big population of Odugbelas on campus in '35!
Patrick Martin '08 is working in a management position with the title, East Bay Community Builder for a local new startup called Rent Sons. A company that allows their Neighbors (clients) to rent young adults to do odd jobs at their homes or local businesses for $25/hr per son or daughter. Contact Patrick if you need some odd jobs done around the house. If you are a young alum looking for work, contact Patrick, he can help you out!
Nate Dubuc '09 is the head chef at
Winner Winner in Newport, Rhode Island. Sue McGann and Pam Farmer stopped by during restaurant week. Nate returns to Newport from Charleston, South Carolina, with great skills in southern barbecue!
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Nate Debuc '09 |
Nick Gordon '12 Congratulations on your graduation to Private First Class!
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Nick Gordon '12 |
Andy Ventres '14
is heading off to do an internship at
St. Joe's Club and Resort
in Watersound, Florida. Andy is a junior at Johnson and Wales University, where he studies Culinary Arts
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Andre Berry '14 went to the NCAA with the University of Rhode Island team, making it to the second round beat by Duke. Andre and his team hold the new record winning streak in the country with 16 wins.
Emalee Ambrose '14 Is starting her summer internship in physical therapy at Mass. General Hospital. Great job Emalee!
Brian Mukasa '15 writes: "I recently began interning with the Pawtucket Red Sox, and it has been an invaluable experience thus far. The work I am involved in is multifaceted and takes place throughout various different departments within the organization. Having the opportunity to acquire insight and real world experience in areas such as ticket operations, game-day operations, event & facility mana
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Bryan Osorio'16 |
gement, and community relations has provided me with the opportunity to develop a variety of skill sets that w
ill serve me well as I move forward in my professional endeavors!"
What a wonderful opportunity!
Bryan Osorio '16 just returned from his second sea term at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He w
ill soon be a Squad Leader and lead basic training for the school's incoming freshmen.
Qidi Barbara Wu '16 has been accepted early into the Goizueta Business School at Emory University. She is looking for an internship in information system and organization management. Good luck Barbara!
Paul Newman '17
competed in the NCAA with his team, the Bucknell Bison, making it to the first round with a loss against Michigan State.
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Steve and Jane Waters |
Steve and Jane Waters continue to live an active life in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. They are on many boards, participate in their church, and sing in many concerts.
Pam caught up with them recently to participate in the community-wide #125instagram challenge in honor of the 125th anniversary of St. Andrew's.
Don't forget to let us know your news! Athletes and upcoming graduates: we want to hear from you!
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Alumni Legacy:
Steve Caruolo '69 and Danny Kariuki '65
This year we are highlighting the benefits of international students on campus. This poem was written by Steve Caruolo '69 about Danny Kariuki '65, a student from Kenya who died in his senior year at St. Andrew's. The poem was published in the 1969 National Library of Poetry Best Poems of the 1990s and in the National Library of Poetry Silence of Yesterday in 1997.
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In Memoriam
David Goglia '70
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Alumni Career Day
We had such a successful Alumni Career Day! The students were treated to wonderful words of wisdom and treasured stories of times past. What a way to learn how to take the next steps in life. I appreciate the time taken by these wonderful alumni. This program grows every year, we hope y
ou will join us next year.
Many thanks to:
David Hiltz '82: "
T
here Is More In You Than You Think"
Mark DiPetrillo '84: "Sustainable Careers in Science"
Ed Myers '87: "Policing the Community"
Cyd Anderson '88: "
The Importance of Internships in Finding Your Career"
Greg Cooper '87 and
Jason Farley '89: "
How To Make Your Mark in the Real Estate and Building Businesses"
Justus Anderson '92: "
How I Found My Passion in Sales by Financing the American Dream: Home Ownership"
Mike Messenger '92: "
Entrepreneurial Spirit: Finding Opportunities and Networking"
Jordan Carbotti '96: "
Inspiration Everywhere and the Truth Behind Design"
John Chmura '98: "
How To Be a Millionaire"
Jeni Han '99: "
Art and Culinary: Following your Passions"
Simon Jarvis '99: "
The Building Blocks of Land and Sea Structures"
Garrett Kissel '07: "
From Sage Gym to Management"
Alex Cuddeback '11: "
Community Service to Public Service"
Erin Lang '11: "
Life on the Field: From Athlete to Coach"
Angelika Pellegrino '13: "
How to Survive Your Freshman Year of Adulthood"
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Alumni Pasta Day, Retiring of Ethan Zexter's Golf Polo, and Gerry Ambrose Scoreboard Dedication
Emalee Ambrose '14 with the scoreboard honoring her dad, Gerry Ambrose, who was a dedicated St. Andrew's employee for many years before his death
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Ethan Zexter '13, who was honored as the SENE champion golfer throughout his St. Andrew's career
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Laura Roman '17 and Pam
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Leelah Ballah '08
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Venus Wolo-Odugbela '02, Josh Odugbela '99, Lamar Barrett '04, and Eric Mack '00
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Ashley Szala '02 and
Eric Mack '00
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Richie Lufkin '72
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Danielle Nelson '88
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Saints with Justus Anderson '92 and his basketball team
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Harry Dulgarian '17 and Kahleb Downing '17
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Around campus and the world!
Ray Cross '04
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Al Elson '83 at the
playoffs sporting his SENE champion jacket!
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Leela Ballah '08
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Pam Farmer, Michael Carter-Williams '11, Tia, Megin Turcotte '03 and Sue McGann
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Michael Carter-Williams '11 with Sue McGann
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Sue McGann, Megin Turcotte '03, and Pam Farmer
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SooHuen Ham '99 and Sue McGann
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Ms. McGann's advisees had a birthday party for her!
Antone Harden 10, Laura King Fiego '99, Anthony Harden '10, Sue, Eric Mack '00, Jeni Han '99, Erika Kraselsky Whetzel '99, and
SooHuen Ham '99
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Greg Cooper '87
Mike Messenger '92
